The bravest rider on two wheels

Every night, 13-year-old Paolo Crivelli sneaks out of his villa in Florence to ride his bicycle. This stealthy act is even riskier because it’s the summer of 1944 and Nazi troops occupy his beloved city. Fully aware of Paolo’s clandestine adventures are his British-born mother (an enemy in the eyes of the Germans) and his sister Constanza, a typical 16-year-old who’s grown...

Cinderella, and all that jazz

Retellings of the Cinderella story abound, but if you thought it was impossible to find a fresh adaptation, you're in for a delightful surprise. Famed British children's author and illustrator Shirley Hughes has marshaled her considerable talents to create a charming and original Cinderella tale in her new picture book, Ella's Big Chance. Originally published in Great Britain, the book has...